Miscarriage care in Scotland: delivery framework
The delivery framework for Miscarriage Care in Scotland outlines a plan for introducing a graded model of miscarriage care. The Framework sets out 34 actions to help NHS Boards prioritise change locally and move to a ‘One Scotland’ approach.
Annex C
Memorial Book of Pregnancy and Baby Loss Prior to 24 Weeks
The Scottish Government, Programme for Government 2023 – 24, published on 5 September 2023 made a commitment to improve miscarriage care so women do not wait until a third miscarriage to receive tailored support, including access to progesterone prescriptions and separate spaces in hospitals within maternity wards for women who suffer a miscarriage, and the launch of a Certificate and Memorial Book of Pregnancy and Baby Loss Prior to 24 Weeks.
The Memorial Book for those who have experienced a pregnancy or baby loss prior to 24 weeks was launched by the former First Minister on 4 October 2023. Along with a physical entry in the book, a commemorative certificate is also provided, this is intended to give recognition and comfort to those who want to record their loss.
The service is free of charge, completely voluntary and historical applications are welcome, as are applications for more than one loss. A link to the memorial book and certificate can be found here: Memorial Book of Pregnancy and Baby Loss Prior to 24 Weeks.
National Bereavement Care Pathway
The Scottish Government is committed to supporting families who have experienced pregnancy and baby loss by delivering high-quality, sensitive bereavement care and provide funding to Sands to develop and support NHS Boards to implement, the National Bereavement Care Pathway for pregnancy and baby loss in Scotland (NBCP).
Sands worked with health professionals, bereaved parents, baby loss charities and Royal Colleges to deliver the pathways, putting voices of bereaved parents at the heart of the development of the pathways.
The pathways provide health professionals with evidence-based care and describe best practice for bereavement care following a miscarriage, ectopic and molar pregnancy, termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly, stillbirth, neonatal death, or the sudden unexpected death of an infant. All 14 NHS Boards in Scotland are now officially signed up to the NBCP and are at different stages of implementation. A link to the NBCP can be found at NBCP Scotland.
The NBCP Parent Advisory Group ensures that bereaved parents voices continue to be heard throughout the implementation and full roll out stages. Sands have also produced Bereavement Care Standards, and these complement the National Bereavement Care Pathway for Scotland. The Scottish Government encourages NHS Boards to use the Bereavement Care Standards wherever possible. More information on the Bereavement Care Standards can be found here: Bereavement Care Standards.
Women and their partners who experience mental health struggles following childbirth, complications or loss, including from previous pregnancies, are also able to access support from their midwife, GP, health visitor, psychological services in primary care and, in some areas, specialist perinatal mental health services.